Softball Game Preview: Whitwell Tigers vs. Hixson Wildcats

A feisty cat fight will be fought as Whitwell Tigers challenge Hixson Wildcats at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Whitwell has given up an average of 8 runs per game this season, so hopefully the team got some pitching drills in this week.

Whitwell came up short against North Jackson on Tuesday, falling 17-8. The Tigers haven't had much luck with the Chiefs recently, as the team has come up short the last five times they've met.

Whitwell saw seven different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Ella Grace Harvey, who went 2-for-3 with one home run and two RBI. Lindsay Gonzalez also deserves some recognition as she got her first hit of the season.

Meanwhile, Hixson had to endure a six-game losing streak dating back to last season, but that streak is no more. They narrowly escaped with a win as the squad sidled past Grace Baptist Academy 2-0. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Wildcats have posted since April 23, 2024.

Hixson's first win this season bumped their record up to 1-3. As for Whitwell, they now have a losing record of 2-3.

Hixson's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Whitwell has been making plenty of contact this season, having averaged 10.4 hits per game. It's a different story for Hixson, though, as they've been averaging 11 hits. Given Whitwell's sizable advantage in that area, Hixson will need to find a way to close that gap.

Whitwell suffered a grim 19-9 defeat to Hixson in their previous matchup back in March of 2024. Can Whitwell avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.